Double Olympic synchronised swimming champion Maria Shurochkina hospitalised after fireplace fire

What happened

Maria Shurochkina, a two-time Olympic champion in synchronised swimming, was injured in a domestic accident at her flat in Moscow on the evening of 8 November, according to Russian outlets cited by Interia. The fire started while she was refilling a bioethanol fireplace that was still lit, and the flammable liquid she was pouring caught fire, setting her clothes and nearby furniture alight. Mash Na Sporte, a Russian channel, reported that she managed to get out of the flat while neighbours heard screams and called an ambulance. La Razón and Ziare place the flat on the 17th floor, while Expert, as cited by Interia, puts the building on Bagrickiego street in western Moscow. The sources disagree on her age: Ziare and G4Media give 32, while La Razón, SAPO and Interia say 31.

Injuries and condition

Russian media reported first- and second-degree burns over about 32% of her body, affecting her head, neck, chest, abdomen and arms, according to Mash Na Sporte. The Sklifosovsky Research Institute in Moscow said she is being treated in the intensive care unit for severe burns, a statement carried by RIA Novosti. La Razón reports that neighbours found her screaming and writhing in pain on the staircase, and that she was taken to emergency care. Russian press also describe a shift in her condition from moderate to serious, while La Razón, citing Sport24, says she may need several surgeries. Doctors are reportedly worried about burn shock, dehydration, infection and tissue necrosis, the death of damaged skin and tissue beneath it. Neither her family nor the hospital had commented publicly on her treatment or prognosis, according to La Razón.

Family and federation statements

Her sister Anna, who performs under the stage name Nyusha and is widely known in Russia, posted a message on Instagram Stories saying that Maria is in intensive care, that her head and face were not injured, and that her condition is stable. The family thanked people for their support. The Russian swimming federation said it wished her a speedy recovery and would keep following her progress and offering support. Interia adds that the federation's representatives confirmed the hospitalisation and said they had contacted the family. The sister's account of a stable condition contrasts with Russian press reports of a serious one, and none of the articles include a later medical update.

Career and honours

Shurochkina won team Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, according to La Razón and Interia. Interia also credits her with 11 world titles and six European golds. She retired from competition in 2022 and became a performer in a water theatre, per Interia. Ziare and G4Media say Vladimir Putin presented her with the Order of Friendship in 2016 and the Order of Honour in 2021. SAPO notes that she has been out of competition for four years, though it still links her to the sport.